Physician - Deputy Chief of Surgery

The Deputy Chief of Surgery is responsible for monitoring the quality of care provided by providers, overseeing the Advanced Practice Providers (APP) and the educational program for the Trainees (both Medical and Physician Deputy students, as well as the Resident Physicians) assigned to or in the Department of Surgery at the Phoenix VA Health Care System.

Responsible for developing, planning, clarifying, administering, and managing the Quality, Education/Training and APPs.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement.

Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification.

NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.

Approved residencies are:

(1) Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), OR
(2) Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA),OR
(3) Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences.

• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs).
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis.
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision.
• Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to physically and mentally perform the duties of Physician under normal and emergent conditions. Moderate lifting 15-44 lbs. and over with assistive devices, heavy carrying of 15-44 lbs. and over with assistive devices; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required, walking or standing up to 4 hours per day; repeated bending up to 1-2 hours per day; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable; hearing aid permitted.

Responsibilities:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be approved for eligible candidates.

Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting
Duties:
The Deputy Chief of Surgery spends 30% of time with clinical responsibilities:

• Diagnose and treat Surgical disorders using the most appropriate techniques in providing quality care.
• Provide supervision of trainees conducting direct Surgical care.
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation and outcome data.
• Consult with Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.

The Deputy Chief of Surgery spends 70% of time managing the Quality, Education/Training and APP programs:

• Designates surgical care priorities and objectives.
• Provide leadership guidance and consultation to staff.
• Develops responses to controlled correspondence at the Medical Center, VISN and VACO levels.
• Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs using data-driven quality assurance processes.
• Responsible for completion of all program evaluations and documents, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies.

Work Schedule: 7 am to 5:30 pm

Salary : $1,000